April 19, 2017

Cleophas and his companion met the Risen Christ but they did not recognize Him at first even though He interpreted to them what the Sacred Scriptures said of Him.

Surely, it was not just facts, quotes, chapters and verses that Jesus shared, it was much more than words, even sacred words. He, the living Word, gave Himself to them – as they listened, captivated by Him, His mystery was entering into their depths. After He disappeared, they spoke of it, “Was not our hearts burning within us while He spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us.” The passage from Hebrews comes to mind: “Indeed, God’s word is living and effective, sharper than any two edged sword. It penetrates…” (Heb 4 12)

And so it was with Peter and the crippled beggar; the Word, Jesus Himself, had penetrated Peter’s heart so that he could say to the man, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have, I give to you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.” And the man crippled from birth walked for the first time – “walking and jumping and praising God.” The Word dwelling in Peter healed him.

And then there is each one of us – here we are penetrated by the Lord Himself through the Sacred Word and shortly, in our reception of His Body and Blood. We receive, as Cleophas and companion did, as Peter and John did, so that, in our daily living, we can give the One we do have in our depths, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Article printed from
The Abbey of the Genesee:
http://www.geneseeabbey.org